Round 1: HP Byron Nelson Championship

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Sergio Garcia produced an eagle and three birdies as he shot a 4-under 66 in Thursday’s first round.

By Mike McAllister, PGATOUR.COM

IRVING, Texas — Sergio Garcia woke up Tuesday morning and didn’t think he’d be able to fulfill his commitment to play the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

The fingernail on his left ring finger had become infected on Monday, forcing him to pull out after four holes of the British Open qualifier at Gleneagles Country Club in nearby Plano.

Now the injury was worse. So Garcia skipped a practice round at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in order to get treatment and see if he could improve enough to play. He did have to honor a photo shoot for his apparel company, adidas, but could only make one swing.

"So we were faking every shot (after that)," he said.

Thanks to some antibiotic cream and pills, the fingernail finally started to heal. He went to the driving range prior to Wednesday’s pro-am, but after hitting no more than 25 ball, he cut the session short. He then withdrew from the pro-am as a precautionary move

"It was just sore enough to be concerned about it," Garcia said.

But he wanted to play in the tournament he won seven years ago. So he decided to give it a go Thursday morning. His opening drive off the par-4 10th tee was a bit inauspicious, though, as it leaked right of the fairway near the cart path but fortunately caught a good lie.

Still, you had to wonder: Could he grip the club effectively enough to contend this week?

The answer came with his next shot. Finding himself 116 yards from the pin, Garcia took out his sand wedge … and holed it. Eagle two. He couldn’t have asked for a better start, especially since he had barely lifted a club the past two days.

"It’s funny how golf is sometimes," Garcia said.

There’s nothing funny how Garcia is playing at the moment, though. The 4-under 66 left him tied for the lead among the early finishers Thursday (playing partner Dustin Johnson also shot 66). It’s also the second straight tournament Garcia has opened with a 66; last week at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, he shot an opening 66 en route to finishing tied for 16th.

Although Garcia is still seeking TOUR win since the 2008 PLAYERS Championship, he seems to be getting closer. He’s posted top-20 finishes in four of his six starts this year, and he’s going low at least one time each round.

At THE PLAYERS earlier this month, he shot a final-round 65. Last week in Fort Worth, he had rounds of 66 and 67. But he still looking to string together four good rounds.

"The only thing I can do is try my best," Garcia said. "Then hopefully I go through my rounds the way I should and thinking the right things and feeling good about the game and hopefully things happen for me.

"If that happens, then we will be out there. If not, we will fight."

This tournament has always been good to Garcia. Not only did he win in 2004, but he made his PGA TOUR debut as a pro in this event in 1999, opening with a 62 and eventually finishing tied for third.

Just like David Toms’ win last week at the Colonial, a win by Garcia this week at the TPC Four Seasons might have destiny written all over it. After all, it was just a few weeks ago that Garcia’s idol, Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros, passed away.

On Thursday, Garcia revealed that one of his cousins also died last week.

"It’s the way of life," Garcia said. "We’re all going to be there one day. You obviously care but at the end of the day, you have to move on. “

And about Ballesteros?

"I think that he’s in a better place now,” Garcia said. “We’ll see him again."